Best College Laptops 2015

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Nearly 18 million students are enrolled at the 4,000 universities and colleges in the United States. Each and every one of them will need a computer, but with so many options, the choice can be a daunting one. Sure, the student bookstore probably has some good discounts on computers, but will any of those be the right laptop for your studies? Start by reviewing our recommendations for the best laptop for your college major, and then check with your specific school to make sure its configuration meets the minimum requirements. Then, you'll want to pick up a few extras, such as a comfortable mouse and a well-appointed backpack. And don't forget to preload some antivirus software before you head to campus.

It's lightweight (just less than 3 pounds) and easy to type on, offers zippy performance, and lasts for more than 12 hours on a charge. What more could a college student want from an all-purpose laptop? We also love the Air's sleek and sturdy aluminum design. Plus, at $999, this ultraportable is a good value.

Engineering is a big field with many subdisciplines, but for many of those, you'll need a powerful PC. Some of the software these college students will need to run -- such as AutoCAD, MATLAB and Simulink -- won't run on a MacBook. The HP ZBook 14 fits the bill nicely. This Windows 7 Pro (64-bit) system comes with a 14-inch, 1920 x 1080-pixel display and a sleek design. Inside, you'll find a fast 2.1-GHz Intel Core i7 CPU with 16GB of RAM, and a 240GB solid-state drive (SSD).

Budding programmers need a best-in-class keyboard and excellent screen for all those hours of staring at zeros and ones. That's why the 14-inch, 1920 x 1080p display and excellent tactile feedback offered by the Lenovo ThinkPad T440s make it a top choice. Well, that and some powerful components, such as a 2.6-GHz Intel Core i5 CPU with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

With a full 10-key number pad on the Lenovo Flex 2 15, your fingers will fly across the AccuType keys, filling in charts and spreadsheets. The Intel Core i5 processor with 6GB of RAM will give you plenty of performance. We also love that you can switch from laptop to stand mode in a second. That's all for less than $500.

Those with a boardroom in their future will love what the ThinkPad X240 has to offer. This business-friendly ultraportable sports a simple but elegant black aesthetic and a comfy palm rest. The X240 is also built to last, thanks to its internal roll cage, carbon-fiber lid and magnesium bottom. The best part? You'll get a whopping 20 hours of endurance with the extended battery.

The Toshiba Chromebook 2 was practically built for online college students. We love both the affordable, $249 starting price tag and the nearly 8 hours of battery life. At less than 3 pounds, this 13-inch machine is pleasantly portable as well. The dedicated row of Chrome OS-specific keys will come in handy, and the crisp audio quality will make listening to lectures (and music) a pleasure.

Buying a workstation doesn't mean you have to break your budget. Starting at $1,079, the Dell Precision M2800 can be outfitted with a powerful, Intel Core i7 processor with 8GB of RAM. The 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080-pixel, anti-glare screen means group projects will pop. Plus, when you're on a worksite, you can rest assured that your machine is protected against water, dust and shock.

Creative pros prefer Macs, so film and animation students should start off on the right foot with the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. Thanks to the quad-core Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 750M GPU, they'll enjoy excellent overall performance and graphics power. In addition, the sharp 2880 x 1800p screen delivers an impressive amount of detail. The iLife and iWork suites come free on this notebook, plus your budding Scorsese will get nearly 9 hours of battery life.

With the gorgeous 4K, Ultra-HD touch screen on the Asus Zenbook NX500, you'll see every piece of the human body in living color. The Intel Core i7 processor with Nvidia GeForce GTX 850M graphics and a 512GB SSD all add up to one powerful study companion. The aluminum design will definitely turn heads on campus.

Regardless of whether you're devoted to organic chemistry, anthropology or atmospheric science, you need a solid machine like the Dell XPS 13 (2015). This Windows 8.1 system packs a powerful 5th-generation Core i5 processor with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. The virtually borderless 13-inch display with a 3200 x 1800-pixel resolution will make sure your notes and graphs pop, giving the illusion of a much bigger screen. The $899 XPS 13 lasts nearly 12 hours on a charge, while the $1,299 version adds a touch display and comes with 8GB of RAM.

Students of the law should start by looking for a PC, because chances are, some of the exams you'll be required to pass won't work on a Mac. Beyond that, a Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 2 Pro should offer all the flexibility and power you need. Not only does this hybrid feature a touch screen and tabletlike functionality, but it also houses a zippy 1.6-GHz Intel Core i5 CPU with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD.